As for Zhang Qianmo and Song Hesong on the other side, one was in the late Foundation Establishment stage, and the other was in the mid Golden Core stage.
Although Zhang Qianmo's cultivation level was lower, the techniques he cultivated were more exquisite than Song Hesong's by no small measure.
Moreover, the spiritual weapon in his hand was far superior to his opponent's.
So, for a while, the two of them were evenly matched.
Meanwhile, Li Fan was gradually gaining the upper hand.
The situation seemed to be developing in favor of the two from the Purple Heaven Sect.
"Brother Song, the situation seemed a bit unfavorable!"
One of the attackers against Li Fan shouted loudly.
"Fellow Daoist Song, don't hesitate, quickly activate the grand formation!"
Chu Liang also called out.
A moment of hesitation flashed across Song Hesong's face.
It was followed by a grimace.
He retreated rapidly, and his blood-red longsword transformed into a large bell, enveloping Zhang Qianmo within.
A crazed expression filled his eyes as he slammed both hands towards the direction of Ningyuan City below.
In Ningyuan City, there were cries and screams of mortals.
Li Fan observed as blood-colored malevolent spiritual energy soared into the air, gathering beside Song Hesong.
Within the bloody light were human faces twisted in agony.
Song Hesong seized this blood-colored mass and poured it into the blood-red bell.
Countless human faces wailed as they rushed toward Zhang Qianmo.
Zhang Qianmo's expression changed, and purple energy shielded him as he attempted to resist.
But it was in vain.
One after another, blood-colored faces rushed into Zhang Qianmo's mind, leaving him stunned.
The expression on Zhang Qianmo's face changed constantly, sometimes in pain, sometimes revealing a bizarre smile.
Seeing that Zhang Qianmo was temporarily trapped, Song Hesong looked towards Li Fan.
Li Fan sensed trouble.
However, Chu Liang and the others were currently intensifying their attacks, preventing Li Fan from escaping.
Song Hesong arrived in an instant.
One in the mid Golden Core stage and three in the late Foundation Establishment stage.
Under the joint attack, Li Fan withstood only for a moment before sustaining heavy injuries.
"It seems that this first exploration of the Fallen Immortal Realm is going to end here."
As his injuries worsened and consciousness blurred, Li Fan heard what seemed like hallucinations.
Illusory whispers, soft and rustling. Sometimes urgent, sometimes soothing.
Seemingly wailing, resembling roars of anger.
However, the specific content could not be distinguished.
Before long, Li Fan could no longer resist.
Song Hesong's blood-colored giant palm ruthlessly slammed onto Li Fan's head.
"Bang!"
Li Fan's head exploded like a watermelon.
By all logic, with his body destroyed, Li Fan should have returned to the real world.
But...
He entered a strange state.
The remaining spiritual consciousness, like a black hole, slowly devoured the body of Li Chen, who was a shell.
There were no remnants of Li Chen's memories.
Just pure spiritual energy, gradually absorbed by Li Fan.
The surroundings became increasingly noisy.
Soft whispers turned into indescribable shouts.
Anger, fear, sorrow, and other negative emotions rushed like a tsunami, vowing to engulf Li Fan.
Yet, Li Fan's mind remained unmoved like a rocky shore.
Because underneath all of this was what Li Fan had been diligently cultivating since entering the path of immortality.
The Venerable Heart Refinement Mantra.
After entering the Fallen Immortal Realm, the Venerable Heart Refinement Mantra remained dormant, showing no special effects.
But only after Li Chen's body was killed...
It started operating crazily on its own.
Like a giant mill, it ground down the power that composed Li Chen of the Purple Heaven Sect.
Turning it into the purest supply, nourishing Li Fan's mind.
Although Li Chen's body died, Li Fan's consciousness gradually grew stronger.
A completely new avatar of consciousness belonging to Li Fan himself began brewing under the headless corpse of Li Chen.
Li Fan remained calm, with no ripples in his heart.
He coldly watched the "plot" continue to unfold around him.
Song Hesong collected the storage ring from Li Fan's hand and then let the corpse fall from high in the sky.
Then he turned to look at Zhang Qianmo trapped in the blood-colored bell.
"This person's will was unexpectedly so resilient. Under the 'Sentient Soul Refinement Formation' that sacrificed tens of thousands of lives, he could still persist for so long," sighed Song Hesong.
"Unfortunately, the more extraordinary you are, the more you had to die today!"
Song Hesong clapped his hands towards the Ningyuan City below.
Once again, a blood glow formed by countless faces surged towards Zhang Qianmo.
Zhang Qianmo's face became even more hideous and terrifying.
Several large tumors bulged on his forehead, seemingly alive, moving around.
"Puff!"
A tumor burst, causing a large hole in Zhang Qianmo's head. Afterward, like a chain reaction, the tumors on Zhang Qianmo's head burst one after another.
Half of his head disappeared.
At this moment, Zhang Qianmo's breath was like a candle in the wind, about to extinguish at any moment.
However, some unknown force within him continued to sustain his vitality.
Even with just a small portion of his head remaining, he stubbornly clung to life.
"What's going on?" Chu Liang exclaimed.
"It seems this guy still has a big secret." Song Hesong's face darkened.
He looked at Zhang Qianmo, saying fiercely, "Even so, you are currently a turtle in a jar. I don't believe you can turn the tables!"
A red light emitted from the blood-colored bell pierced Zhang Qianmo's body.
The red light, like a knife, flashed in a crisscross pattern.
In an instant, Zhang Qianmo was cut into countless pieces.
"After all this, I don't believe you can survive!" Song Hesong sneered.
Chu Liang and the others also breathed a sigh of relief.
But not long after, their faces gradually turned pale.
Because...
They discovered that Zhang Qianmo's breath still hadn't disappeared!
"Bloody hell! What kind of demonic technique is he cultivating!"
Song Hesong finally revealed a terrified expression.
"Fire! Use fire!" At this moment, Chu Liang shouted.
Song Hesong pinched his fingers, and a red fireball appeared underneath the pile of flesh.
In the intense heat, the flesh turned into flying ashes.
But within this flame, something persisted.
No matter how vigorous the flame, it couldn't destroy it.
It was a purple-colored Golden Core.
"Golden Core? Wasn't he in the Foundation Establishment stage? How could a Golden Core be formed inside his body?" This scene clearly exceeded the understanding of Song Hesong and others, and their faces all changed color.
In fear, Song Hesong used all his techniques to attack the purple Golden Core.
However, no matter what, they couldn't shake the Golden Core even a bit.
Trying to put it into the storage ring was also impossible.
Because the aura belonging to Zhang Qianmo still lingered above it.
Moreover, it was growing stronger and more vigorous.
"You miscellaneous cultivators, without orthodox teachings, not studying the classics."
"Even if you learn a new method, it's nothing more than having a high cultivation level."
"How can you be compared to us orthodox sects?"
Zhang Qianmo's cold words emanated from the Golden Core.
The Golden Core immediately radiated brightly, forcing the flames to retreat.
A body slowly took shape from the radiance.
As the radiance converged, it transformed into clothing.
"I said that I will kill you today!"
Zhang Qianmo looked at Song Hesong and spoke in a cold tone.
Song Hesong trembled all over.
He continuously struck downward, and amid the miserable cries of countless mortals, strands of blood-colored light materialized and surged toward Zhang Qianmo.
As for Song Hesong himself, he didn't care about Chu Liang and the others trembling in fear; he turned into blood-colored light and fled far away.
Zhang Qianmo took a step, turning into purple lightning, arriving before the blood-colored light.
Song Hesong couldn't believe how fast Zhang Qianmo was. Unable to dodge in time, he collided head-on.
"Boom!"
Amidst the intense collision, Song Hesong seemed to lose control of his own body.
Zhang Qianmo reached out with his right hand, gripping Song Hesong's neck and lifting him up.
"Traitor, die!"
Zhang Qianmo pronounced the verdict.
A purple lightning bolt descended from the sky.
It fiercely struck Zhang Qianmo, who remained unharmed in the lightning, but Song Hesong, caught in his grip, let out a miserable scream.
He then died.
Zhang Qianmo looked towards Chu Liang and others, who had fled in different directions.
He sneered.
Pointing his finger lightly.
Three purple lightning bolts descended.
Their auras vanished, and three black dots fell from the sky.
Zhang Qianmo didn't bother with them anymore.
"To be forced to this extent..."
"A new method..."
He showed a contemplative expression.
Then, as if sensing something, he flew down to the ground.
There, the corpse that originally belonged to his junior brother Li Chen seemed to have melted like a candle.
Zhang Qianmo discovered that beneath the remaining layer of skin was another completely unfamiliar person.
It was awakening.